Feature Story

Feature Story

Off-ice training to offset hockey costs

By Kim McCullough

Hockey is expensive. That’s nothing new. And it seems that the better you get, the more hockey you “have” to play, and the more it all costs. As Hal Tearse mentioned in his article, “The world is changing,” (LPH Jan. 29, Feb. 5) parents, coaches and associations have to find ways to get these escalating costs under control if we hope to keep the game growing at the grassroots levels and want to continue to develop elite-level players from this system.

Hal suggested using off-ice training as a way to offset costs to families and teams. However, this option is rarely explored because many people still believe that off-ice training has to be expensive and time-intensive in order to be effective. And that simply isn’t true.

Coaches, parents and players are looking to put in a relatively small investment in terms of time, travel and money towards off-ice training, in hopes that that investment will yield a relatively large return. And if you use a properly designed program, that investment will pay off.

Coaches and parents are looking for professional-designed, safe and effective off-ice training programs that are:

1) Time-efficient: Let’s face it – coaches just don’t have the time to research potential off-ice training options. And an already tired and over-booked parent doesn’t want to spend more of their time shuttling their child to and from the gym. Even though these parents and coaches recognize the importance off-ice training plays in a player’s development, they may be reluctant to commit even more time to the pursuit of hockey excellence. What you need is an off-ice training program that can be completed in the time it normally takes to get to the rink.

2) Easily accessible: In an ideal world, parents and players would have access to off-ice training coaches with expertise in hockey-specific player development right at their doorstep. While this would be convenient, it is also unrealistic. In most cases, parents and players must drive to yet another facility to access this kind of expertise. In some larger cities, this might only be an extra 20 minute drive. But in smaller communities, this commute might be close to an hour long – if a reputable athletic training facility even exists in the area. What you want is an off-ice training program that can be done at home, at the school gym or in the rink with minimal equipment or travel required.

3) Cost-effective: Training one-on-one with a certified strength and conditioning coach in a commercial gym will cost on average $50 per hour. Even the cheaper group rate for team training is cost prohibitive for the vast majority of parents and teams. Getting a membership to a fitness facility or community center is a much less expensive option, but will not include the price of having a program designed to address the specific needs of the athlete. What coaches and parents want is to make a small initial investment in a step-by-step off-ice training program that is easy-to-understand, easy-to-use and highly effective.

A properly designed off-ice training program can make players faster and stronger without requiring them to use an expensive training facility or fancy workout equipment. And the reality is that most players have not yet developed a solid enough foundation of strength and stability to require advanced training programs and facilities yet. Off-ice workouts that build a foundation of single-leg strength, core stability and upper-body strength only require your body-weight and a minimal amount of space. Making the investment in a properly designed off-ice training program for your athletes can cost less than a single hour of ice time, and will have a greater long-term effect.

To learn more about cost-effective off-ice training for young hockey players, visit: http://besthockeyseasonever.com/. Kim McCullough, M.Sc., YCS is a highly sought-after expert in the development of aspiring hockey players and has played at the highest level of women’s hockey in the world for the last decade. Kim’s player development website gives coaches and parents of aspiring young players access to programs, articles and advice on how to help their players take their game to the next level.

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